Lake Erie Set to Take Breast Cancer by Storm Feb. 12

PAINESVILLE, OHIO – The Lake Erie College Department of Athletics is asking fans to think pink when it host its second annual "Taking Breast Cancer by Storm" basketball doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Jerome T. Osborne Family Athletic & Wellness Center. Fans are asked to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness that day when the Storm hosts Grand Valley State University.

The event is part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Pink Wave initiative, which in turn is part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) PinkZone effort, which runs Feb. 11-20 on campuses throughout the league. The Lake Erie men will tip-off against the Lakers at 1 p.m. with the women following against GVSU's nationally-ranked squad around three o'clock. Both teams will wear commemorative Pink Wave shooting shirts during warm-ups and will feature additional pink themed accessories like socks, shoelaces and sweatbands.

Admission will be free that day for both games, but donations will be accepted to benefit the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund. Additionally, thanks to local sporting goods supplier Sports & Sports, fans will have an opportunity to buy limited edition "Taking Breast Cancer by Storm" t-shirts for $5 and bracelets for $1, with all proceeds from those sales also going to the Kay Yow Fund.

Last year, the Taking Breast Cancer by Storm event raised over $1,400 for the charity – the second highest amount raised among all GLIAC schools.

"We had a great response and turnout for last year's event," said Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator Jason Tirotta. "We sold out of the t-shirts before the first game tipped off, so Sports & Sports has really helped out this year in hopes of increasing the amount we raise and our ability to give back to the Kay Yow Fund."

Lake Erie students will have an opportunity to purchase bracelets the week leading up to the games in the Holden Center during lunch. That sale is conducted by Lake Erie Student –Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

The Taking Breast Cancer by Storm theme runs throughout the school year and has already included fund- and awareness-raising events by the Lake Erie volleyball and swimming and diving teams. The Storm basketball teams will continue to wear their Pink Wave shirts and accessories for road games the following weekend at Northern Michigan University and Michigan Tech University.